Common Leather Questions & Answers

Q. What Type Of Leather Do I Have?

A. There are many types of leather available on the market today. Listed below are the most common varieties. Information from leathermasteruk, Europe's leading leather care and repair programme. Care Programmes & Kits available in store contact us for more details.

• FULL ANILINE. The most attractive and natural leathers which are prized for their soft natural feel. These are leathers which have been aniline dyed in a vat process with no colour coating added to the surface. They are the most expensive leathers to produce because only the very best selection of hides can be used to produce full aniline leathers. Full aniline dyed leathers are more susceptible to absorbing liquids because of the natural porosity of the hide. Because they don't have a top coating the leather breathes more easily and is cooler to sit on.
• PULL UP ANILINE. This is a type of aniline leather (described above) that has an extra top treatment of oil and/or wax effects. These Pull Up leathers are designed to become "distressed" looking through time and use. Its properties are similar to full aniline but in places of heavy use, the oils will be pushed away leaving lighter areas - particularly on the seating areas. It will also scratch easily. Leather Master has special products designed to restore the look and feel of Pull Up leathers.
• SEMI-ANILINE. Semi-Aniline dyed leathers have been both dyed through and have a thin finishing layer on the surface. They offer a combination of the softness and feel of full aniline leather with the protective benefits of a surface finish. By dyeing the leather through before the final thin top coating is applied, a very even colouration is achieved with only a thin layer of finish. Thus the leather remains softer because it is not necessary to apply a thick top coating.
• PIGMENTED. The leather may be buffed (corrected) to reduce heavy natural scarring and blemishes in the hides. It is then coloured with a coating containing opaque pigments and embossed with a grain pattern to ensure a uniformity of colour and resistance to fading.
• NUBUCK: also called - CHAPS, STONEWASHED OR SUEDE. These are actually aniline leathers where the surface has been brushed, and have created a texture similar to a velvet on leather. Many people confuse these with suede leather. Suede is the flesh side of a piece of leather, and nubuck is an effect that is done to the grain side. This brushing actually breaks the surface and opens up the leather even more making it incredibly soft. The brushing also makes the leather even more absorbent than aniline leathers.
• BYCAST LEATHERS: also called - COATED LEATHER. This is a new development in using split leather. It is produced from the lower split by first melting a type of glue on the surface, then rolling on a film of coloured polyurethane.
  It normally is produced in darker colours and when stretched it lightens. It also scratches quite easily. This type of leather is now coming on to the furniture market but has been used for handbags and belts for some time.
  This product varies in quality. We recommend that any ByCast leather used is independently tested to minimum British Standards.
  It is also important that the temperature of room that the ByCast leather is kept remains below 30°C.
  As the top surface has a high polyurethane finish normal leather creams should NOT be used.

Q. My leather upholstery has been damaged, is it repairable?

A. Yes most type of leathers are repairable to a certain degree. Rips, tears, burns, scuffs, holes, scratches and stains from a number of common household spillages can be repaired with excellent results. These instances are all covered in our optional Premier Care Protection Programme (subject to terms and conditions).